Western Hunter

El Jefe is back! Chris, Brody, Tom, and Levi discuss the results of the survey for Issue 4 of 2026 - The Gear Issue. We asked what kinds of things our readers are thinking about, what works and what doesn't, and the types of tools they want us to cover both in this issue and future issues. The answers were once again very thoughtful and interesting! If you enjoy the cast, please subscribe/save/rev...

In this episode, Brody talks with the three pillars of Outdoorsmans: Josh Adderson, Bryce Cramer, and Chad Dembinski. These three account for 90% of the operation of the most highly respected glassing retailers in the country. This episode provides a  look at the day-to-day life of an Outdoorsmans employee as well as a dive into what makes these guys tick. Spoiler alert: it's nothing but hunting....

In this episode, Brody sits down via telephone with Dioni Amuchastegui, an emerging legend of the West. Dioni is an incredibly dedicated mule deer hunter with the trophy room to prove it. Brody got to pick his brain on tactics, weapons, and the current state of various mule deer populations and habitats. Dioni also created the Guardian Chest Plate, a universal holster-carrying system for binocular...

This episode was recorded in Kevin's truck on the road home from the Mason Valley NRL Hunter match. Kevin, Brody, and Tom did a solid debrief of things they saw, felt, and learned while shooting/filming the match. This was Kevin's fifth NRL Hunter shoot and Brody's first. Tom was along to capture it, and he had some unique observations of his own. As always, thank you for listening. We hope you en...

Kevin sat down at the Wild Sheep Show to talk shop with Collin Russel and James Wessler from Leupold Optics regarding the new BX-6 Range HD binocular. They talk through the development, testing, and launch of one of Leupold's most exciting products to date. We hope you enjoy these inside-the-industry looks! If you do, don't forget to rate and/or review the Western Hunter Podcast on your platform o...

In this episode, Brody sits down with Kevin and Tom to discuss the current state of hunting gear technology, including some new standout products, some that have made their way into most hunters' kits, and a few that are coming down the pipe. If you enjoy the Western Hunter Podcast, you'd probably love Western Hunter Magazine. Learn more/subscribe to that here. https://westernhunter.net/shop/subsc...

We're back! Thank you for your patience. In this episode, Brody, Joe, and Levi review the responses from our latest reader survey, which related to emergency/survival situations in the field. We were flooded with fascinating answers to the questions and stories of worst-case-scenarios, so we sat down to review them and share a few. This survey and podcast were inspired by the theme of 2026 - Issue...

On this episode, Kevin sits down with Tom Hinski, Brennon Fisher, and Summer Fisher to discuss hunting late-season elk hunting in Montana.  For more info on hunting with Montana Outwest Outfitters, visit https://www.montanaoutwest.com/ If you enjoy the podcast, give us a rating, a thumbs up, or a review on whatever platform you listen on! Got a topic you'd like us to cover or a guest you'd like us...

In this episode, Kevin and Brody sat down to swap stories with Wilderness Athlete's own Katelyn O'Brien (also known as KOB). Katelyn is an adventurer, and her spooky near-death-ghost-encounter tale is one for the ages. Kevin also shares a story about assisting another hunter with a dislocated shoulder miles from the trailhead, and Brody tells of his first encounter with a sow and cubs in Wyoming....

In this episode, Brody, Kevin, Tom, and Levi gathered up to officially recap Kevin's archery elk hunt in Montana. They discussed each day of the hunt, interactions with other hunters, tactics, clothing, gear, and even Brody's (loose) connection to Steve Irwin's daughter, Bindi. If you enjoy the podcast, please take a second to rate it on whatever platform you use! If you really enjoy the podcast,...

Brody and Chris discuss the all-new Swarovski AT/ST Balance spotting scopes and their application, industry implications, field use, ergonomics, and more. Chris's in-field review video: https://youtu.be/N20GjdthwFA Check it out at Outdoorsmans.com: https://outdoorsmans.com/collections/swarovski-stabilized-spotting-scopes If you enjoy the podcast, give us a rating, a thumbs up, or a review on whate...

In this episode, Kevin sits down with Brennon Fisher, owner of Montana Outwest Outfitters, to discuss Kevin's elk hunt, the guide business, and Brennon's background and experiences hunting the Bitterroot Valley. For more info on hunting with Montana Outwest Outfitters, visit https://www.montanaoutwest.com/ If you enjoy the podcast, give us a rating, a thumbs up, or a review on whatever platform yo...

In this episode, Kevin and Brody sit down with Eric Stecker of both Defiance Machine and McMillan Stocks–two of the most reputable and precise rifle component manufacturers in the country. Eric shares some of his personal history with each company, the origins of their extraordinary products, and a little about what might be in store in the future for both. It was an honor to have him in the studi...

In this episode of the Western Hunter Podcast, Brody talks to Kevin and Tom before Kevin's Montana early archery elk hunt. They plan to create a film for Wilderness Athlete about the hunt. Topics include preparation, gear, camera gear, the dynamics of hunting with a cameraman, and more. Stay tuned for a follow-up de-brief episode after they return! If you enjoy this podcast, please consider subscr...

In this episode, Brody and Levi (mostly Brody) flip the script and interview Chris Denham regarding his health and fitness routine as an extremely busy, extremely durable hunter over 60.  Chris explains his daily workout and supplement regimen as well as his strategy for staying fit and fueled during his 5+ month hunting season. Chris drives over 30,000 miles each season to film episodes for The W...

This episode features Brody Layher and Levi Sopeland. Brody is our human gear library. He's also a die-hard hunter who moved to Arizona after experiencing the mountain West for the first time. Levi is a videographer/photographer for The Western Hunter as well as our family of companies. He's also the primary copyeditor and a member of the creative team for Western Hunter Magazine. In this episode,...

Welcome to a new type of Western Hunter Podcast. We've got a lot of interesting characters working in the background at Western Hunter Magazine, Updated Media, Outdoorsmans, and Wilderness Athlete (WHUMODWA). Moving forward, we plan to create more and more episodes for you to learn about the inner workings, their experiences, and their areas of expertise (or lack thereof), and offer perspectives f...

Ryan Holm is the new Director of Marketing for Leica's Sport Optics division. While Ryan is new to the high-performance optics industry, he is no stranger to the hunting market. I first met Ryan when he was in a similar position with the pack company, Mystery Ranch. I still give him major credit for building that brand into the category leader.     Revitalizing an optics company in the hunting, bi...

In this episode , I sit down with Exo Mtn Gear owner and founder Steve Speck. My son Mark Denham and I had just completed a tour of their innovative manufacturing facility, which was remarkable. Steve and I explore the fundamentals of not just making a pack but also building a business and customer base that will sustain a company .     In my opinion, Exo Mtn Gear has one of the best podcasts for...

Chris and Kevin were recently invited to tour the Leupold factory and visit the Leupold Optics Academy in Oregon for some long-range and NRL training. During a break, they sat down with CEO Bruce Pettet and Shooting Sports Marketing Manager Nic Kytlica to talk legacy, optics, rifles, and Leupold's bright future in American manufacturing.

Western Hunter Magazine introduced a western bird hunting section starting with the September 2024 issue. Kevin Guillen and Chris Denham explain many of the reasons the editorial staff decided to offer this new content.   

On the March/April cover of Western Hunter Magazine we have a spectacular image of Casey Richmond with his Idaho bull. When I first saw the picture, I knew there had to be a crazy story behind it. Casey works for Eberlestock so while we were at the Wild Sheep Foundation show we took the time to record this podcast. Greg Williams also with Eberlestock joined the conversation. Of course, we talked a...

The Western Hunter crew just returned from a blacktail deer hunt on Kodiak Island, Alaska.   This was a boat-based hunt meaning we lived, ate, and slept on the boat. Each morning one of the two boat captains would run us to shore in a zodiac type small boat to hunt and pick us up each night. The captains do this every single day from early October until the middle of December. The life they lead i...

I have hunted blacktail deer on Kodiak Island in Alaska and believe the experience offers the most adventure for the dollar in all North America.   This year our crew included three guys who had never hunted in Alaska; Mark Denham, Levi Sopeland, and Kevin Guillen (who had never been to Alaska prior). We sat down to capture their emotions and thoughts, there enthusiasm and awe reminded me of my fi...

OnX Maps pioneered the hunting GPS industry and has become the gold standard for western hunters. In this episode I sit down with Dylan Dowson from OnX to discuss the past, present and future of this technology.  onxmaps.com